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UNI UNI (5-14 (1-4 MVC))
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Winner Bradley BRAD (10-13 (3-2 MVC))
UNI UNI
(5-14 (1-4 MVC))
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Final
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Bradley BRAD
(10-13 (3-2 MVC))
Winner
Marjanovic_5
Josh Schwam

Braves Win, Advance to MVC Semifinal

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Match Recap: Women's Tennis | | Josh Schwam, Communications Student Assistant
DES MOINES, IA – Bradley Tennis advanced to the semifinals of the 2022 Missouri Valley Conference Women's Tennis Championship with a 4-2 win against the UNI Panthers Friday afternoon at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center on the campus of Drake University.
 
The #3 seed Braves were first to consolidate breaks of serve in all three doubles matches. Bozana Lojpur/Nikki Perlwitz won their second straight doubles contest with 6-4 win at the No. 2 spot before Maria Bezmenova/Nina Marjanovic sealed the point with a 6-4 win of their own at No. 3 Doubles.
 
Including the regular season, BU won all five doubles matches against the #6 seed Panthers this season. 
 
The Braves were aggressive early in singles, jumping out to 3-0 first set leads at Nos. 2 and 6. 
 
The newly minted repeat All-MVC honoree Perlwitz won her first set 6-1 at No. 6, while Kirstin Hailey claimed the opening frame 6-3 at No. 2 Singles. Marjanovic then won her first set, 6-3, at No. 5 Singles.
 
The Braves claimed five of six first sets, with Andrade winning 7-6 (8) at No. 3 Singles and Bezmenova winning 7-5 at the No. 4 spot.
 
Perlwitz was first to the finish line, winning 6-1, 6-3 at the No. 6 spot to push BU ahead 2-0. Andrade followed with a 7-6 (8) 6-2 win at No. 3, making the score 3-0.
 
The remaining four singles matches went into decisive third sets. The Panthers picked up consecutive wins at the top two singles spots to pull within one.
 
Coming in clutch for the Braves was Marjanovic. Playing for her career, the senior gritted out a 6-3, 6-7 (4) 6-4 win at No. 5 Singles to send Bradley to tomorrow's semifinals.
 
TOMORROW
 
Bradley will face the #2 seed Illinois State Redbirds for a spot in the MVC Tennis Championship Final. The Braves dropped their regular season contest against ISU, 6-1, at the Evergreen Racquet Club in Bloomington, IL. 
 
ISU advanced to the semifinal with a 4-0 win over #7 seeded Missouri State earlier Friday afternoon.
 
Match Notes: Bozana Lojpur/Nikki Perlwitz won their 43rd career doubles match as a pair, tying the Bradley Tennis record for most doubles wins by a pair… the record was held by former teammates Natalia Barbery/Sandra Maletin… The win was also the 119th combined win of Lojpur's career, putting her into sole possession fifth in combined wins in BU history… BU now has 10 wins in each of the last four full seasons for the first time in program history… All 10 of Bradley's match wins have come when winning the doubles point… the Braves are 10-2 this season when they win the doubles point…Perlwitz is on a career long six match singles winning streak.
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Players Mentioned

Natalia Barbery

Natalia Barbery

5' 6"
Senior
Bozana Lojpur

Bozana Lojpur

5' 5"
Sophomore
Sandra Maletin

Sandra Maletin

5' 10"
Junior
Nina Marjanovic

Nina Marjanovic

5' 9"
Junior
Nikki Perlwitz

Nikki Perlwitz

5' 7"
Sophomore
Kirstin Hailey

Kirstin Hailey

5' 8"
Freshman
Maria Bezmenova

Maria Bezmenova

5' 9"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Natalia Barbery

Natalia Barbery

5' 6"
Senior
Bozana Lojpur

Bozana Lojpur

5' 5"
Sophomore
Sandra Maletin

Sandra Maletin

5' 10"
Junior
Nina Marjanovic

Nina Marjanovic

5' 9"
Junior
Nikki Perlwitz

Nikki Perlwitz

5' 7"
Sophomore
Kirstin Hailey

Kirstin Hailey

5' 8"
Freshman
Maria Bezmenova

Maria Bezmenova

5' 9"
Sophomore